mjscharen 's review for:

South: The Story of Shackleton's Last Expedition 1914-1917 by Ernest Shackleton

5.0

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An amazing, incredible story that just happens to be true. Ernst Shackleton leads an expedition to Antarctica where things just began to go wrong. Without giving too much away, even though this is recorded history, there were so many parts of this ill-fated adventure that will keep you on the edge of your sofa! Imagine men stranded in the Antarctic while WWI is raging. They have to split up. Those staying have to eat penguins for the better part of a year (not good for regularity). Shackleton and others take leaky boats, nothing to cove rthemselves with but rotting deer skins while laying on a bunch of rocks for ballast in an open boat. They needed to navigate over 800 miles of open ocean aiming for a tiny spit of land in friendly territory. The area between Antarctica and the nearest land of Africa or South America is vast. Waves start, and never end. Imagine icy waves that have built up to over 50 feet high trying to kill you and those under your command! The resolve and resourcefulness of these men, and their faith in Shackleton saved every man's life in this epic saga. Let's stop worrying about the concerning but incredibly overblown/exaggerated/exploited plague we are supposedly under and read about some real survivors and real heroes.